Well, that’s one way to get some heat on a rematch for SummerSlam (we think).
The late afternoon announcement Akira Tozawa and Neville would battle for the Cruiserweight title in Boston tonight (Aug. 14), less than a week before they were scheduled to have a championship match on Sunday in Brooklyn, was met with raised eyebrows.
It wasn’t clear from Renee Young’s interview with Titus O’Neil if this encounter would replace their pay-per-view (PPV) date, but now that we know the outcome, you can imagine the King will want to exercise his rematch clause as soon as possible.
Yes, you read that right. Tozawa was able to beat the man who’s held the Cruiserweight strap since January in TD Garden, so the Titus Worldwide after-party is going to be CRAZY.
HE DID IT! #TitusWorldwide's @TozawaAkira is your NEW #Cruiserweight Champion!!! #AndNew #RAW #205Live @WWENeville @TitusONeilWWE pic.twitter.com/mwd5fF8ve7
— WWE (@WWE) August 15, 2017
During a back-and-forth affair, a thunderous Superplex left both men woozy. Then Neville missed a Red Arrow, and the Japanese Superstar sprung to attention, hit his own senton finisher from the top and became the fifth man to hold the purple belt since it’s inception last Fall.
What happens next? The division’s show, 205 Live, is tomorrow night, so this feud might still have a few twists and turns between now and The Biggest Party of the Summer.
Stay tuned.